Durango football showed its defensive chops on the road Friday night, as the Demons achieved their second shutout of the season, 19-0, at Palisade.

Durango improved to 8-1 on the season and 4-0 in 3A Western Slope league play. The Demons are on an eight-game winning streak after dropping their first game to Farmington.

Palisade dropped to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the 3A Western Slope league.

“The defense played lights out,” Durango coach Matt Burton said. “Physical football against a physical football team. I thought that offensively we moved the ball, and again, against a team that likes to have typically a lot of time of possession with the ball and we were able to do that and keep the ball out of their hands.”

Junior Cully Freeney led the Demons with eight tackles, while junior Braxton Waddell and senior Julian Rodriguez each had seven tackles. Durango had 49 tackles, including six tackles resulting in lost yardage.

Freeney and Waddell each had one interception, as did senior Mason Palmer.

On the offensive side, the Demons were able to move the ball on Palisade with their one-two punch of senior quarterback Tyler Harms and senior running back Jaxon Fancher.

Harms threw for 169 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Fancher had 19 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Although Durango moved the ball, it struggled to score touchdowns when in the red zone. The Demons had too many penalties, two of which took touchdowns off the board, according to Burton.

Dylan Burns’ foot was put into action with Durango’s inability to punch the ball across the goal line. The sophomore hit four of his five field goal attempts with the longest make being from 39 yards out.

“He’s a very talented player and we’d be in a bind without him,” Burton said.

Durango has next week off as it awaits its seeding in the 3A playoffs.

bkelly@durangoherald.com